Eila's carriage sped away from the Countess’ mansion. She then drove a long way to arrive at the largest and most luxurious mall in the capital. She got off the carriage and noticed that people were staring at her.
“……?”
Why are they doing that? Maybe my outfit is weird? But even compared to the people around her, she didn't feel that her clothes were too strange. The sound of people whispering could be heard in Eila's bewildered ears.
“It’s definitely the coat of arms of Countess Dermund…….”
“The maid wouldn’t come in a carriage…… Who is she?”
At that voice, Eila hurriedly went inside.
'Well, nobody knows me.'
She spent a lot of time at the academy. Besides, she didn't go out or meet people even when she returned from time to time, so it was only natural that people wouldn't recognize her. If at least her clothes were a little better, she would have heard that she was probably a distant relative of the Countess, but a maid...….
Eila she stood in front of a mirror and looked at the clothes she was wearing. She was wearing the best clothes she had rushed to bring from the academy, but it looked like maid’s clothing in this mall. She hurriedly moved her steps.
As she went to the place where there were shops selling women's clothes, more and more people were present. Probably because it is a place mainly used by nobles, the shops in the mall were places that even Eila, who rarely came to this place, had heard of before at least once.
"Wow…….”
When she looked at the show window, it was full of beautiful clothes that made her admire them. It wasn’t that Eila didn't want to wear those clothes. But she never bought it. It was not that the support from the Countess was lacking. On the contrary, her monthly allowance must have been higher than anyone in the academy. It was just that she never used it.
The Countess and Leon did not know, but the remaining money, excluding her tuition and living expenses, was still intact in her bank account.
‘I can’t spend the Countess’ money as I please.’
She couldn’t touch the money easily because she thought she would have to pay everything back one day and leave the Countess.
Eila, who had been staring at the clothes for a while, entered the shop, and the staff quickly approached her.
“I’m sorry, but why are you here?”
She was polite, but the staff didn't seem to think that Eila would be her guest.
‘It can’t be helped.’
She was a little offended, but Eila struggled to smile, thinking it couldn't be helped with her outfit.
“I want to see some clothes.”
“…… I see. Then would you like to come this way?”
At Eila's imposing words, the staff panicked a little and led her to the clothes in a corner. At a single glance, the clothes were cheaper than the ones in the front.
“No, I want to see the things over there.”
“…… All right."
Since she was a guest, the staff couldn’t refuse her. Eila looked at the clothes on a hanger in the center of the shop. Even if it was ready made clothes, it was a shop that dealt with nobles, so the clothes were actually close to being tailor-made. If you choose a design you like, they could make alterations for that person, and then they wouldn’t be able to sell it to anyone else.
Among them, Eila soon found a design that suited her. It was just the right size, so when she came out of the dressing room, the outfit looked like it had been made for Eila from the start. So, while Eila was looking at herself satisfactorily in the mirror, a customer who came into the store looked at Eila and said to the staff.
“I will buy that. Send it to my mansion Send in the staff who will do the alterations too.”
“But, but this customer chose the dress first…….”
The staff spoke as if she were troubled, and the woman's eyes went up sharply. She approached Eila impatiently and said:
“You, it looks you you don’t know how things work around her as you seem to be a countryside noble or a commoner, but that dress is going to be bought by me.”
“No.”
“What is this, do you want to raise the price? Then I'll give you twice as much, so take it off quickly."
She would have thought about it if the lady had said she liked the outfit and asked her to give it up. But she had a attitude of saying ‘I'll give you money, so get lost.’ No matter how much money she gave, she had no intention of giving up. Eila told the staff that she didn't want to hear any more.
“I will pay for it.”
“Hey, can’t you hear me?”
The woman raised her voice at the sight of Eila ignoring her.
“I said I would give you more money. I saw your clothes over there and saw that you probably only saved money to come here once, but do you know who I am?”
The woman who shouted like that took something out of her bag. It was a family badge with elaborate engravings of the family crest. In places like this, it was common for nobles to pay for things with a family badge like that instead of carrying money. The woman shrugged as she pushed her family nameplate forward.
“You know the Marquis of Brenbach, do you?”
“Marquis of Brenbach…….”
Coincidentally, it was a family that Eila knew, and it was also a family that was quite famous in the capital.
“Yes, if you understand, can you take the money and leave?”
Eila agonized for a moment. What should I do? Eila, who was worried, saw her bag that the staff gave to her as if telling her to hurry up and get out. Ella opened her bag and saw something glittering inside. It was something that was carefully handed to her as she was leaving. The butler told her that Leon had left it for her.
"Whoo..."
Eila, an academy student, would have just have given up and left. But not today. Ella took it out and handed it to the staff.
"I'd like to pay for it. I'll wear it like this, so I don't need any alterations."
The staff saw what she handed. What Eila gave her was also a family badge. However, there was a big difference from what the woman form the Marquis Brenbach offered. A golden lion attached to the crest of the family. It was proof that they were a family that had the authority to meet the emperor at any time without a separate permission. The woman shouted again as the staff took it and trembled with her mouth wide open.
“No, what such family are you from that you proudly present your family crest……Der, Dermund!”
The woman, who took the family badge from the staff's hand, recognized her coat of arms and screamed.
“Well, it can’t be. Countess Dermund is ill, and if that is the case, then Sir Leon Dermund is the only immediate family member who can have the family badge...….”
The woman who had been muttering raised her head and looked at Eila.
“No, no way…….”
She never showed up at events so no one knew what she looked like, but it seemed like her existence was remembered. Eila responded by nodding her head as if to affirm the woman’s thoughts.
"Yes. I am Eila Dermund.”
Eila said proudly.
“I am Leon Dermund’s wife.”
~
"Sigh…….”
Sitting on a bench in the corner of the mall, Eila pressed her pounding chest.
I am Leon Dermund's wife.
Eila, who had been sitting and muttering those words over and over again, cooled her hot cheeks with the back of her hand. She was just stating the truth, but she didn’t know why the corners of her chest tickled like this. After a while, Eila could barely calm down and wandered around the mall again.
The place she entered this time was a shop selling accessories. At the entrance, all kinds of ornaments studded with diamonds, rubies and sapphires shining brightly were flaunting themselves while waiting for their owner. Upon entering, she was greeted by incomparably friendly staff compared to when entering the clothing store. Moreover, when she took out her family badge, they became momentarily surprised, then led her to the inner room, brought her tea and dessert, and began to show her jewelry one by one by themselves.
‘I was only going to buy a suitable earring.’
As soon as she took out the family badge, Eila realized the power of the Dermund family as the store would be immediately closed to the public and would entertain and serve only her. She knew well that the power came from the Countess, and from Leon, who was now working as her surrogate.
Eila looked at herself who was wearing the earrings and necklaces brought out by the staff. When she entered the mall, people called her a maid, but now she saw a perfect lady in the mirror. It was okay to be treated like a maid when it was just her. But.
"Leon Darmund's wife...….”
She never wanted to look ridiculous when she was in that position. Because it was an insult to Leon as well as the Countess.
“…… Shall I go back?”
As she wandered around the mall, Eila felt that she was slowly getting tired. She was a little shaky because she had spent more money than expected, but she still enjoyed herself. She didn’t know about everything else, but Leon couldn’t say anything about her buying underwear since he had torn it such that she couldn’t wear it anymore.
‘When will Leon come back?’
Leon has never been away from the mansion for more than a day since she returned. That's why his absence, which she would have casually neglected over in the past, had a big influence. Thinking of him, Eila stopped walking. And She looked around. Many couples were seen walking around talking happily with each other.
“…….”
Eila, who had been watching these people for a long time, turned her head. Will she one day be able to come here with Leon like those people? She never asked him to go out with her, but Leon was sure to do what she wanted, as always.
‘I should go back soon.’
Maybe Leon came back early. She wanted to see him.
With that thought in mind, as she moved towards the entrance of the mall, Eila saw that a crowd had gathered.
"Huh?"
At a glance, they all looked like people from well-known families, who were all decorated with fancy and expensive things. What are they gathered here to watch?
'What's going on inside?'
Eila turned to go inside and see what the people were watching. She was curious, but somehow her body was getting more and more tired. Maybe it was because she had been outside for too long. She walked a little, calming her slightly nauseous stomach.
“Eila!”
An unwelcome voice was heard and someone grabbed her wrist.
“……!”
She knew it. Gordon was there when she turned around.
She had no luck. That I would meet this person in a place like this.
She quickly pulled her hand away, then she greeted him moderately, Eila hurriedly turned her body. But Gordon was quicker and blocked her path.